How Chevron and Closelink are Automating Procurement

Closelink, a digital platform for marine lubricant procurement, and Chevron Marine Lubricants, a global leader in high-performance solutions, are marking a year of full integration.

The pair are delivering near-instant order processing and greater automation in maritime procurement.

This partnership is the first of its kind in the maritime lubricant industry, which grants buyers and suppliers a platform that enables an automated, real-time way to manage orders with the Closelink platform.

OnePort: The digital game-changer

At the centre of the integration is Chevron's proprietary OnePort, a portal which gives buyers the ability to make enquiries, place orders, check the availability of products plus chat with representatives.

OnePort is considered to be one of the most advanced digital tools in the marine lubricant market by suppliers.

Through the integration, buyers can manage the full order process—from enquiry to confirmation—within Closelink, while Chevron's team operates in OnePort.

The two systems stay fully synchronised in real time, ensuring updates and confirmations are always aligned. Even OnePort's live chat is embedded, enabling fast, traceable and context-rich communication.

Philippe Lavarde, Managing Director at Closelink, says: "Chevron has made a substantial investment in building a best-in-class supplier system. Through Closelink, that value becomes available to buyers exactly where they need it inside their existing workflows."

Five-second solutions replace overnight delays

What once took hours, or even overnight, is now happening in less than five seconds thanks to this partnership. It means buyers are no longer waiting for supplier-side to process incoming requests or put data in manually.

When an enquiry is submitted with Closelink, Chevron's system gets to work, automatically generating a quote and sharing it back without human intervention. Something which is critical for short-notice deliveries where every hour counts.

This benefits the entire supply chain, with orders placed through Closelink instantly reflected within Chevron's internal system, giving supply chain teams the ability to start organising deliveries with no delay. This leads to fewer bottlenecks, faster mobilisation and a more agile response to vessel demands from anywhere in the world, meaning Chevron's ability to respond offers a real competitive advantage.

Ayten Yavuz, General Manager Marine Lubricants at Chevron, adds: "The OnePort customer portal was developed with our customers at the heart of the design.

"Its intuitive online interface streamlines the entire lubricant procurement process from placing orders and tracking deliveries to generating invoices. By removing unnecessary steps, OnePort significantly reduces order management time, freeing up valuable resources so our customers can focus on their core business. This digital tool helps to ensure customers can access what they need, wherever and whenever they need it."

Based in Hamburg, Closelink is a maritime technology company which is reaching new heights when it comes to maritime procurement. Its digital platform helps shipping companies build resilient strategies while also creating tangible cost savings.

The platform was created for the procurement of marine lubricants, one of the most complex and cost-intensive areas in ship management. While this integration increases the degree of automation in enquiry and order management, Closelink offers value which goes far beyond that.

Closelink delivers four core capabilities:

• Automated demand monitoring reduces risk with real-time alerts based on vessel schedules, stock levels, lube oil usage and supply opportunities.
  
• Proactive planning helps optimise costs by consolidating deliveries at the most cost-effective ports.
  
• Integrated ordering simplifies procurement with a lubricant-focused workflow, featuring tailored approvals and automated supplier communication.
  
• Visual reporting boosts transparency through live dashboards tracking performance across vessels, suppliers, ports and products.

Chevron and Closelink are working towards a common goal: to make marine lubricants procurement a much simpler, faster and more reliable service through the use of the latest technology.

Chevron's OnePort was formed to reduce manual tasks and free up operational resources. Closelink supports this by giving buyers the ability to plan ahead and make better decisions faster.

The integration offers more than just a technical upgrade. It is providing another step towards marine procurement which is powered by automation, data and collaboration.